Sen. Mitch McConnell looks to shift blame for government shutdown

WASHINGTON – In a bid to put pressure on Democrats, Sen. Mitch McConnell, the GOP leader, plans this week to bring up legislation to immediately reopen the government and incorporate President Donald Trump’s proposal to offer temporary protections to some immigrants in exchange for $5.7 billion for his border wall, a top aide to McConnell said Sunday.

By coupling government funding with the plan Trump unveiled Saturday, McConnell — who has until now stayed on the sidelines in the shutdown debate — is hoping to shift blame for the shutdown to Democrats, who have said repeatedly that they will not negotiate over border security until the government is fully open.